Euroleague: CSKA, Milan, and Darussafaka taste victory

After Real Madrid opened the 2016/2017 Euroleague season with a win over Olympiacos yesterday, more of the continent’s giants entered the fray on Thursday. There were three more contest from round one of the Regular Season on the night, with the rest of the round to play out on Friday. This is, of course, an historic Euroleague season where every club will play each other in the Regular Season.

Getting the ball rolling this season were CSKA Moscow, EA7 Milan, and Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul.

Galatasaray Istanbul vs. CSKA Moscow, 84-109

Current Euroleague champs, CSKA Moscow, has enjoyed a productive preseason and that showed as the Russian giant dismantled Galatasaray in Istanbul. Consistently high scoring was the order of the day as CSKA cruised. The visitors nailed 27 points in the first quarter for an 18-27 lead. The heavy scoring continued as the Army Men hit 30 in Q2. Galatasaray managed 27, but trailed 45-57 through the long break. CSKA did not let up in the second half, scoring another 52 points on the way to an easy opening win in the defence of its title.

Last season’s MVP, Nando De Colo, topped CSKA with 22 points, while Milos Teodosic doubled up with 20 points and 11 assists. Aaron Jackson notched 16 points for the high-scoring Russian club, followed by Vitaly Fridzon with 15 points.

Sinan Guler led Galatasaray with 16 points, with Alex Tyus taking 15 points.

EA7 Milan vs. Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv, 99-97

Proving it will be a long way back to the top for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Milan sneaked a victory over the 2014 title winners in Italy. There was not much separating the teams on the night, but Milan will point to a big third quarter as the defining frame of the contest. The host started well and managed 25 points in Q1, but Tel Aviv kept pace to trail by a single point on 24. The deficit was cancelled as the guests took the second stanza 19-20 for a locked scoreboard through halftime, 44-44. Milan cut loose in the third with 28 points, while Maccabi managed 21 to trail 72-65 through thirty minutes. The hosts weathered an Israeli rally in the fourth to seal the win.

Ricky Hickman was the pace setter in the win with 22 points. Milan Macvan added 18 points for the Italians, followed by Miroslav Raduljica with 15 points.

Andrew Goudelock, returning to European hoops, showed what we have been missing with a game high 27 points. The American will be hugely important for Maccabi Tel Aviv this season. Devin Smith added 18 points in the losing effort, while Sylven Landesberg managed 15 points.

Darussafaka has grown nicely into its role as Euroleague club over the last year and here the Turkish outfit showed what it has learned by taking out the Serbian champs. There was a lot of movement on the court for both clubs, but the visitors managed to edge an exciting encounter. It was looking so good for Belgrade through halftime. The hosts had won the first act 24-17 and the second 20-13 for a commanding 44-30 advantage. However, the visitors found momentum through an 8-16 winning third and then capped an excellent comeback with an 18-27 winning Q4. Crvena Zvezda will feel they threw this one away.

Will Clyburn topped the win with 19 points, while Dairis Bertans added 13 points and Brad Wanamaker 11 points. Adrien Moerman recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards.

Ognjen Kuzmic led Belgrade with 16 points, with Marko Guduric adding 13 points.